CHIPPENHAM is be a target seat for the Liberal Democrats in the next General Elections according to leading MP Jo Swinson, when she visited Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge.

Voters in both town met her and the consituency’s LibDem candidate Helen Belcher, who spoke about the future of the party in Wiltshire, the possibility of a general election and the latest Brexit movements.

Ms Swinson said: “Chippenham is the place we have held in most recent times and it’s only four years since we had a LibDem MP in Chippenham and so I am sure there would be significant focus on this seat within Wiltshire. It is one we would want to win again.

“I do think there is a possibility that a general election could happen in 2019, it is very hard to predict in politics as it is so volatile but Theresa May is not going to lead the Conservative party for very long and I entirely see the circumstances where a new Conservative leader would want to call a general election.

“As Liberal Democrats we are ready for that and we have a fantastic candidate in Helen Belcher here in Chippenham.

Her husband Duncan Hames held the seat for the LibDems from 2010-2015, when he lost to Conservative Michelle Donelan and gave up active politics. She said: “It’s always lovely being back in Wiltshire, I have many very happy memories here with Duncan and when my son Andrew was born.”

Speaking about Brexit, Ms Swinson added: “I voted very much to support an extension to Article 50 to stop a no deal Brexit which I think would be catastrophic and also to have a people’s vote. I will be campaigning strongly for staying in the EU in future polls.”